How to Use over the top in a Sentence

over the top

1 of 2 phrase
  • It’s truly best served warm with a fat scoop of vanilla ice cream melting over the top.
    — Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 28 June 2026
  • This midi dress feels bold and playful without being over the top.
    — Mia McManus, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026
  • Serve directly from the packets or transfer to a large serving platter with plenty of the buttery broth spooned over the top.
    — Staff, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
  • Scattered over the top were generous pebbles of queso panela, mild, milky and squeaky like halloumi.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
  • Facing no one but the goalkeeper, Moshobane sailed an uncontested shot from 18 yards over the top of the net.
    — Idaho Statesman, 3 July 2026
  • Chalsma’s unstinting vociferousness, which sometimes seems over the top, leaves little doubt as to who shaped Coriolanus’ martial character.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • The Pro Unlimited plan could save you significant amounts of money over the top plans of competitors, but that depends entirely on how many people on your team need access.
    — Ruben Circelli, PC Magazine, 30 June 2026
  • That acquisition, coupled with the additions of Chiefs cornerbacks Trent McDuffie in another trade and Jaylen Watson in free agency, could put defensive coordinator Chris Shula’s unit over the top.
    — Mike Jones, New York Times, 29 June 2026

over-the-top

2 of 2 adjective
  • What’s with the over-the-top events?
    — Andrea Lavinthal, People.com, 15 Aug. 2025
  • The over-the-top halftime shows.
    — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2026
  • This would have put AI over-the-top.
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
  • Someone could ask for help in an over-the-top way.
    — Tribune Content Agency, Baltimore Sun, 5 Jan. 2026
  • There's a lot to love about this over-the-top chicken recipe.
    — Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 21 Sep. 2025
  • Here’s where to find the best deals—and the most over-the-top drops—this year.
    — Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
  • The fight scenes look even more over-the-top and ridiculous this time around.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
  • The fight scenes look even more over-the-top and ridiculous this time around.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025
  • But all the outside noise and over-the-top takes that would go along with this one?
    — Sean McIndoe, The Athletic, 1 Jan. 2025
  • Swift has produced many over-the-top concert films.
    — Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 26 Jan. 2026
  • People who find things like that over-the-top tend to be boring.
    — Marta Balaga, Variety, 7 July 2024
  • Plus, there are a ton of other over-the-top amenities planned.
    — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 25 Jan. 2024
  • Deatherage's roots play a big part in his over-the-top designs.
    — Kevin Huynh, InStyle, 11 June 2026
  • The servers are over-the-top attentive.
    — Usa Today Network, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Add a day of heli-skiing, and that is an over-the-top ski trip.
    — Larry Olmsted, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • The menacing tent cities and the over-the-top drug use on city streets are gone.
    — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 19 Oct. 2025
  • Its twists, turns and over-the-top fight scenes made the series an instant hit.
    — Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026
  • Its twists, turns and over-the-top fight scenes made the series an instant hit.
    — Emily Blackwood, People.com, 25 Jan. 2025
  • Pop hooks, catchy lyrics, over-the-top spectacle — what’s not to like?
    — Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2023
  • There was such a sense of over-the-top joy just being in the audience.
    — Clayton Davis, Variety, 20 June 2024
  • For many, this over-the-top atmosphere is part of the appeal.
    — Mary Holland, Robb Report, 10 July 2025
  • The finishing layer of crispy tater tots put this recipe over-the-top.
    — Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 29 Dec. 2024
  • Even her attempts to stay warm were fashionably over-the-top.
    — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 5 Jan. 2026
  • West End Girl is raw and over-the-top at times, but that’s part of the point.
    — Anna Holmes, The Atlantic, 16 Dec. 2025
  • But for the true horror hounds who can never have enough over-the-top gore, this one's for you.
    — Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2026
  • And everything here is over-the-top, from the pricey entrees to the stylish bar.
    — Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas News, 1 Aug. 2023
  • Many around the world know Springer from his over-the-top tabloid TV show.
    — Scott Wartman, The Enquirer, 9 June 2023
  • One false move and your over-the-top turns will be remembered for all the wrong reasons.
    — Jenelle Riley, Variety, 31 Oct. 2024
  • The over-the-top luxury of their lives is one of the things that makes the doc so iconic.
    — Merle Ginsberg, HollywoodReporter, 20 Jan. 2026
  • There’s also an abundance of over-the-top amenities to go along with the hefty price tag.
    — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 4 Apr. 2023

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'over the top.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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